Q&A: Nimrat Kaur Joins the Cast of U.S. TV Show ‘Homeland’

Nimrat Kaur’s portrayal of a lonely, middle-class housewife in “The Lunchbox” in 2013 turned her into a critical darling and a name to watch in alternative Indian cinema. Her next appearance, however, won’t be a Bollywood film. Ms. Kaur said she will be joining the cast of the hugely popular U.S. television show “Homeland” starring Claire Danes and Damian Lewis.

In an interview with India Real Time from Cape Town, South Africa, where Ms. Kaur is shooting for the fourth season of “Homeland,” she explained her crossover from Indian films to American television.

Edited excerpts.

The Wall Street Journal: After your breakout performance in “The Lunchbox,” why is your next project a TV show in the U.S.?

Nimrat Kaur: As clichéd as it sounds, it just happened by chance. I was in London on some personal work and my manager got to know that a casting director there was holding auditions for “Homeland.” I had heard a lot about the series in India, but I hadn’t seen it. My manager got me the audition and I went for it and got selected for the role. After I got back to India, I binged on previous seasons of “Homeland” and I am a convert now. I completely understand why viewers love it so much and I am all the more excited to be a part of it.

WSJ: What was the audition process like for the show?

Ms. Kaur: The audition was pretty straightforward. I just gave one audition in London and two to three days later I was told that I was selected for the role. The formal announcement took a while though. Initially I was told I would be part of five episodes. After I landed in Cape Town [South Africa], they said seven. It looks like my character could stay until the end of the season.

WSJ: Can you give us a little insight on the role you’re playing? What is your character like?

Ms. Kaur: I play the role of a Pakistani ISI agent, Tasneem Qureshi. I am Claire Danes’ nemesis on the show. Tasneem is a mysterious and enigmatic girl and the best part is there is so much going on beyond that devious smile of hers. She is a seductress and knows how to get her work done. I like the gray area in which the character is placed. It is challenging to be that character.

WSJ: Is the move to the U.S. a permanent thing, or do you see yourself doing a mix of Indian and international projects?

Ms. Kaur: Not at all. I very much want to do films [in India]. “Homeland” is another show for me, a very prestigious one for sure. Having said that, I am going to be balancing Indian and international projects, depending on what comes along. I have always believed in doing my best and moving on. I don’t like to expect much. That way one is neither affected by success or failure.

WSJ: Were you approached by Bollywood for roles in films after your appearance in “The Lunchbox”? What sort of scripts were you looking at?

Ms. Kaur: A lot of scripts came to me that were similar to the character I played in “The Lunchbox”. But I wasn’t keen on playing the lonely housewife again. I wanted something more challenging and something different from what I had already done. I decided to wait it out. Even now, I know there is a greater power above us, who makes sure things fall into place in a way. For instance, if I had signed something, then perhaps I would not have been able to take on “Homeland.” So maybe it has all happened for the right reasons.

WSJ: Did the scripts fall short of your expectations? Or are there long-term projects you are considering in Bollywood?

Ms. Kaur: I read about 25 to 30 scripts, but there wasn’t something I connected with. I have always believed that the way “The Lunchbox” happened to me, I happened to the audience as well. It was all quick, out of the blue and fell into the right place at the right time. Currently, I like two scripts, but it is too early to speak about them. Once I am back in India, I will make at least one announcement.

WSJ: How is the working atmosphere in the States different from India?

Ms. Kaur: It feels like I have been thrown into the deep end. It is completely out of my comfort zone. Everything is up in the air. Normally, I am used to working after doing a lot of rehearsal but we are given the script just before shooting. It feels like I am part of a workshop. Also, I have a habit of knowing people who I work with. But here in every episode you are working with different directors and editors, and even before you get to know them they have wrapped up.

Priyanka Pereira is a freelance writer based in Mumbai. You can follow her on Twitter on @priyankapereira.

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